It's been a long time

My Internet is out, and I haven't had time to fix it!!!! So, I've not been blogging much lately. I have decided to start Life Coaching and see if I can additionally get someone to "back" me as a counselor. This is what I have wanted to do for years now, and I'm going to do it come heck or high water! I've been "busy" doing everything in the past few years for everybody else, and now it's time for me to do what I want to do.

Another good day - more or less

Had a good doctor's visit. I need to test again for C Diff. It can remain in the body and reoccur later - which can be dangerous for me and for those around me.
The day went fairly well. We went out to eat at the Pizzeria downtown. All my kids came, plus my niece and her son, my son's daughter, and my youngest daughter's boyfriend. Fellowship was good - as well as the pizza. Two among us had classes and/or meetings, so we had to leave by a little before 7:30.
Sometimes, I wish that things had been different, but, as the nursery rhyme states, "If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride." It would be nice to ride a little, huh?

Time Goes So Quickly

Here it is Sunday evening. My daughter, her husband, and granddaughter have been here from Colorado since Wednesday afternoon. It looked like a long time when she arrived, but now there is only one full day left until they have to return. We always have so many plans, and we get about half of them done - maybe!
We went to the pumpkin patch today. I think everybody had a really nice time. The baby rode a pony and seemed to enjoy it. We then ate - the husband was hungry, so we went to the barn for food. Next came panning for gold (youngest daughter), and then we all went to the petting zoo. The rabbits didn't cooperate, and the chickens weren't cooped up, but other than that, the pigs were cute; my son-in-law couldn't resist them. Last year, he tickled the one that they had, and it squealed; this time, he wasn't so lucky.
We went on the hayride to the pumpkin patch - saw donkeys, buffalo, and long-horned cattle on the way to the patch. A little disappointing. The hot, hot summer had ruined the pumpkins, and they had to ship in pumpkins, so they were all sitting in the patch, nicely cut, waiting for us to "pick" them. Six huge ones cost $37. Talk about breaking the bank!
We took a short jaunt through the corn maze, but we began to feel a few drops and decided it was a good time to beat a retreat to the treat barn. It really began to pour while we were waiting there. The driver of the pumpkin train really beat it back for all the parents to come and pick up their rain-spotted little kiddies. Lots of fun!
The kids love to go, and I love to spend time with them, so it was a very enjoyable day. It was rather sad as both the little kids were visiting other people this weekend. Next year, though!

Feeling Sad

Well, it's been a while since I last posted - probably a lifetime.
I'm a little sad today. Three months ago, my little Copper was killed by coyotes, and last Saturday, we found out that Callie, our yellow lab, is dying of cancer with only a few days to live.
This has been such a sad year.
My sister-in-law died suddenly on Easter Sunday. She had blood clot problems and one broke loose - that's all it takes. I really miss her and was looking forward to doing things with her this year. She was just starting quilting, something that I enjoy so much, and now she's gone.
Then, my Copper died, and I lost the one dog that I felt would protect us if anyone did enter the house. I just felt safer with him here.
Now, it's sweet Callie. We have taken her to the vet, and have surgery after surgery - all to no avail! She is sitting here next to me, breathing heavily, skin and bones, and I think back on all the wonderful years that we had together. She has been such a good dog. She certainly doesn't deserve this.

Lions, and tigers, and bears

I wish it had been lions and tigers and bears! What it was, was C diff. I thought I was going to die - and was praying for that to happen!
When I went to Colorado to visit my daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter, I was bitten by a spider on the next to last day that I was there. My cheek tingled every now and then, but I didn't touch it as school was supposed to start on Monday (we arrived very late Saturday evening). The next day when I awoke, there was a huge scab on my right cheek. It was sunken in and leatherly, so there wasn't much I could do. It was worse the next day, so on Tuesday evening after school, I went to Monroe Hospital where I was treated by a Korean doctor. He didn't know what it was but saw that it was infected, so he gave me an antibiotic to clear up the infection. That was the 17th of August. I took the medicine for 10 days, and the next day - Sunday, the 28th, I was sick. I think I had the flu 'cause my middle daughter had the same symptoms. I missed two days of school, went back to work, and by Friday afternoon, I was dead sick. I went home that afternoon - missing the last three classes, and went straight to bed and to sleep. I slept all of Saturday and was really sick. I told my daughter that if I wasn't feeling better by Sunday, I wanted her to take me to the ER. She came over in the afternoon, and I was a little sick, but better, so she went home. I had to call her in the middle of the night to take me to the ER. I was vomitting and had horrible diarrhea. They gave me some meds and rehydrated me and sent me home to bring back a sample.
When I took it back, it would be a while before they got the results. On Tuesday, they called: I had C diff. I was so sick by then that I was praying for death and making out my will. I would have texted my will to my son-in-law, but I was too sick. I missed the rest of the week, and Monday of the next week. I went back to work on Tuesday, but I wasn't really ready to go. It wasn't until Thursday, the 23rd that I finally felt like I was alive again! This has been really been the worst illness that I have ever had, and if I ever get it again, I don't know if I will make it.

Missing my puppy

I can't believe how much I still miss my little puppy. He was just such a personality. One of my friends at Ivy Tech told me to get another dog, but that would be like replacing a child - it just wouldn't work.
I have started on my paper. It's beeni kind of difficult as I've been a little sick today. I also had to go shopping as we were totally out of food. I have to finish my paper by Friday; get the house in some kind of order, and fix some meals for Grandma. I've tried to get her to call Steve to see if he can come and spend a couple of nights with her, and she hasn't yet. I don't know what I'm going to do. I really need this vacation. Maybe a change of scenery will help me to be less sad. I certainly hope so. I just haven't felt like doing anything since Copper died, and this just can't go on. My ex stole so many years from me, and I would like to have some good, happy ones in the future - beginning now.
I hope my paper turns out well. I think I have good research, and it's a topic I feel very strongly about - dating violence and rape. I'm thinking that if it's good enough that I may forward it to some of the people at work. Rape prevention really needs to start much earlier that it does. Well, it actually doesn't as the majority of rape prevention programs target women, making them the victims. Many rapes have already been perpetrated before college age, and alcohol is a contributing factor - beginning at home as kids have to have someone older to give it to them.
Well, I'm not making much sense now. I'm really tired and still want to do a couple of other things before bed. I just hope I can sleep tonight. Last night was rough!

Copper's been gone a week, today

Copper's been gone a week today. I still expect him to come home! Everyone misses him so much. Callie waits at the top of the porch stairs for him and often just wants to turn around and come back without him. Gretel goes through the house and barks when she smells his scent. This morning, she jumped at the bathtub and started barking - and barking and barking. She barked all morning. She also went into my room to sniff around and bark a little. I hope it gets better soon. This has been a miserable year.
I've felt so bad, and we were ripped off by Gary to the tune of over $300 dollars. It's just been so difficult adjusting to new medicines and being so tired. Then Rhea Dawn dying on Easter Sunday like she did was just awful. But I had to keep on - work, work, and more work.
The wedding was beautiful, but stressful, and then my money disappearing like that just when we needed it the most. I just don't understand how that happened. Going from extra to a big negative was quite a shock.
All the things that I have to do at home is so overwhelming, and now this! The puppies have been like my children, and now Copper is gone, and I miss his quirky sense of humor. He was so funny and happy. He didn't deserve to go like that. I don't know why he would go like that - especially that day as it was so hot, and he always stayed close when it was hot.
So, for nearly two weeks, I've worried and mourned. It's difficult.

Still Sad

I'm still so sad over Copper's passing. I just miss him always being here. I could trust him with my life; he would protect me with his. I miss his "Copper and away" morning greetings when he would come into the room and stand on his hind feet to tell me he was ready to go outside. He was mean to the cats (not totally undeserved), kind of selfish, but I loved him all the same. He was like one of my babies after the kids left, and I just miss him so much!

Copper

I am so sad. Copper didn't survive his injuries. It is just about unbearable. This year has been so bad anyway, and now this. I just feel like I should have done this... or that. I know that you can't second guess and that hindsight is better, but I'm just at the point where something like this is just so hard. I really loved that little dog, and I was so sure that he was going to make it, and then he didn't. I don't know how I'm going to clean out his little man cave under the dining room table or take his little bed out from under the end table in the living room.
I will miss him being under my bed and coming to get me up in the morning to let him out. He was an annoying little dog, but he was so sweet, too. It just wasn't right that it should end so.
Copper, I love you and will miss you. I will see you again because I'm sure there's heaven for you, too.

Copper Update

Copper seems to be feeling a lot better today. He's drinking a lot more water but hasn't eaten yet. I hope he gets to feeling better soon. He's so lucky to be alive.
It's still HOT here, and I'm awfully tired of it being hot! Doesn't help the puppy either.

Copper

Copper is doing better today. He's drinking a little water but still not eating. I'm worried about him, but he seems to be feeling a littler better as he is now fighting me when I try to give him his medicine. I hope he'll start feeling better soon. There sure are a lot of pills to give him.
Just a few weeks and my youngest and I will be in Colorado. Got a lot to do before we go. I'm looking forward to going - I just wish it didn't cost so much.
Guess, I better close. Just wanted to post a Copper update.

Homework and more homework

I just finished my homework for my Psychology and Social Change class. It was interesting trying to fit my topic - campus rape and dating violence - into sustainability of the enviornment. I can't believe that after all these years I'm finally pursuing the dream of completing my master's in mental health counseling and beginning my PhD in psychology. I have wanted to get a PhD since my 20's and decided on counseling a few years later. Unfortunately, an unhappy (to say the least) marriage, and a horrible divorce prevented my returning to school.
I was lucky enough to get a job teaching, but I couldn't get counseling, and hopefully helping others, out of my mind. I guess that counseling is a calling, for when I began my practicum, I felt like this was what I was meant to do. I finally understood the idea that if you're work is something you love, then it is not work.
I enjoyed working at the homeless shelter so much, and I miss the people there. I wish I could continue working there, but I can't afford to at the moment. I learned so much about people and what they have to endure. I wish that I had money! I would love to be able to help them out.
Well, I am so tired and not making sense, so I'd better close for now. Tomorrow will be a busy day. Housework, taking caring of Copper, getting things for mom, working on my paper and syllabus, and can't forget the lesson plans!

Golden Dog

What a day! Copper, our beagle, came home looking terrible and dripping blood. I called the Cat Hospital which makes house calls, and they came out to see him, and then I had to bring him in. He is home now, but he apparently tangled with at least one coyote - and we're within the 2 mile fringe - and didn't come out so well. Now, 100's of dollars later... But, I couldn't let him just die. He's been a member - although an obnoxious one - of the family for years now. I must go shower - doggie stuff all over - and then I need to fix my dinner and something for my mom. Then, it's time for homework, for which I still have a lot of reading to do!
Nothing like the little curves life throws you to make you feel.....

Time's a wastin'

Today went well. My morning class did fairly well. We were only able to get through two chapters, but they were rather difficult - and one was really long. I haven't graded their quizzes yet, but I bet that they didn't do as well on the pronoun quiz as they thought!
Why am I writing about my students? I guess because I haven't got a real life, so...
I'm down another couple of pounds, but I've been eating like crazy the past couple of days. I'd like to get down to where I go down a size, or two, so that it shows that I've lost weight!!!!!
I have to go to the doctor's sometime this week to have blood work done. She said at first that I didn't need to have blood work, but when the secretary called me this morning to tell me that my bone density is good, and my X-rays were okay, that the doctor was waiting on my bloodwork. But they didn't give me a paper for that! Anyway, the bloodwork will tell her more about whether I have rheumatoid arthritis, full-blown, or not.
It's so hot today. Last summer, it rained - a LOT - and was cold. This summer, it's rained - a LOT - and is sweltering. We didn't even need an airconditioner last year, and this year, we can hardly move with the heat, plus the air conditioner.
I have so much to get done! I need to write an outline for the paper that's due in three weeks. I need to write a syllabus for the class that I'm teaching this fall for Ivy Tech, and it's due for one class, and the outline is due for the other class on Sunday. Then, I have lesson plans for German and Spanish classes to do - in addition to writing quizzes, games, etc. for Bedford. I have tons of papers to grade! Then, there's a ton upon tons of stuff to do around the house - both my daughters' rooms need a lot of work, plus the living room needs a thorough cleaning, and the dining room - let's not talk about that. There's all kinds of papers, and games, and ..... they need to find homes in other rooms, so that the computers and printer can go in there.
After the house is given a good cleaning, then it's time to start on the garage. I'd like to be able to get the car in there. Then I wouldn't have to go down the front steps with my huge book bag, and all the other things that I carry around.
Well, I'd better stop my complaining and get busy. Homework for Teaching Psychology and lesson plans for German 2, here I come!!!!
I hope everyone had a great day. (I know tomorrow will be. I'm going school supplies shopping!! There's nothing more fun that paper products!)

Another fun weekend

Another great weekend! I've worked a lot this weekend. I got the last two chapters of the German 1 lesson plans done, so now I can start on German 2. I also got a couple of stories copied for German 4 which I now need to clean up and get on another page, but that may have to wait until I get back to school.
Today I worked on reading for my paper, answering the people who responded to my post, and tried to get some ideas for my syllabus that we have to turn in this coming week! The syllabus is for a class that we might teach. Well, since I have to make a syllabus for the psychology class, that's what I'll do.
I have some papers to grade and grades to figure, but it's after 10, so I doubt if that will get done tonight.
Friday night, my daughter took me to her husband's band gig at Max's Pizza. It was really good. My brother and sister-in-law came over, and we had a good time. He's having a hip replaced on September 1st. I asked him if that wasn't the date that Germany invaded Poland, but he didn't know.
I guess I'd better try to grade some papers for tomorrow's class. My students are really great. I have a couple who have bad attendance. I will try to email them. There was an outage earlier today, and we couldn't get online.
Until later.

Another Great Day!

My son is getting his truck - without help from his father! Yeah! He's so excited, but he has to find his keys to Jada's car. He can't find them and locked them in her car.
I just watched part of one of my favorite movies - Meet Me in St. Louis! I forgot it was on, or I would have watched all of it. Ma and Pa Kettle is coming on now. I love that series. It's so funny. There are so many movies that I love - and TMC is playing a lot of them this summer.
Got a lot of lesson plans done this morning and will work on something like that now.
My middle daughter and I went shopping this afternoon. What would we do without Walmart? I'd like to find out! Prices have really gone up since the new store came in. With this recession going on, you'd think that they would try to help out people who are sinking. A lot has changed just in the past few years. Well, we did have a good time. Don't know what the oldest girl is doing. She hasn't called as much since she returned to Colorado. I really miss the weekly chats (not at the fireside - but I guess most of all of you might not remember those!). The youngest one is at a wedding. She bought her dress the other night. She got the one that didn't look as good on her - she didn't like the color of the one that was so good on her, but they do what they want when they're out on their "own." She'll return the charge card tomorrow!
Well, I'm tired, and thirsty, and have a lot to do, so it's me and the textbooks.
It'be been a nice day.

Day Tripping

Yesterday was a great day. My daughter, her new husband, my new grandson, and my mom went to Lawrence County and visited Blue Springs Cavern. I didn't go this time, so Mom and I sat on the porch enjoying the breeze. They had a good time; matter of fact, the son-in-law is interested in working there, so he can go into the cave and explore - something only the employees can do.
After that, we drove to Montgomery and ate at the Amish restaurant there. We drove out for a while into the countryside, so that J-boy could see buggies and such. We also did a little shopping, and I was able to pick up a few Christmas presents. Christmas, you say? With my financial and time budget, I have to start early.
At any rate, it was a beautiful day - my favorite type of summer day, not too hot and a great breeze coming through the trees!
After I got home, my youngest was waiting for me to pick up a dress for her to wear to her boyfriend's wedding. I left my ID and cards in the car, so we had to come home. I gave her the card to go back, and I went in to do my homework. I did more homework, today and have a mini-paper due Sunday, and I still have to read some articles for that, plus work on my lesson plans for the high school, plus my new class for the community college, and write a paper for my social change class, and do a few more mini-papers for my teaching psychology class. PLUS, I need to clean house and get all the girls' things out of my new rooms!
Guess I'd better get busy!!
Hope you day has been as good as mine have been lately!

Very Tired!

Here I wrote all these wonderful things about going shopping with my daughters, and then our computer cord came undone, and I tried to get it back, but it was gone!!!! I was so mad. Anyway, I did have a good day shopping with the girl and enjoyed a lovely Thursday afternoon!

If anyone is out there, I'm now back!

I have been gone for a while - well, at least away from the computer! My computer crashed at the beginning of last month. Just when I needed to write two term papers for my final grade in my classes!! Then with all the other things that have been going on, I haven't had time to get the computer fixed.
My daughter's wedding was beautiful, if a little late. We had to wait about 10 minutes. My brother was bringing my mother and uncle, and it took mom a little longer to dress than she thought. Then, when they got to Ellettsville, he missed the turn and had to drive through Ellettsville and come back.
It was a beautiful wedding though. Jacob was the perfect ring bearer, and Devon loved being flower girl. Whenever she tossed the flowers, she would look over her shoulder to see where they landed.
The reception afterward was really good, too. All the girls were dancing - even Ella and Aiden. Matter of fact, Ella was still dancing when we were leaving the building. She konked out pretty shortly thereafter.
Well, the dog is staring at me, so I'd better close for now, and let him out. It's also after 11, and I need to get to bed. Til later.

It's Friday!!!!!

I can't believe it's finally here: I wait for Friday all week. I feel bad about it - like a friend at work told me a few months ago: we're wishing our lives away. I guess that's true, and it seems like I have been doing this for so long. Waiting for court decisions, waiting to find the kids, waiting for them to grow up, so they wouldn't have to go any more. At the same time, I didn't want them to grow up, but we had to in order to get away. We paid a great price. I lost my dad who wouldn't have had the first heart attack if he hadn't been under so much stress; but they paid with their lives, too, by never being who they started out to be. The potential to be who they were.
I can't believe that I went from so happy to so sad. I guess that is just the way that things are when you've been through as much as we have.
Today was a good day. Kids brought in their bonus food today. There was birthday cake from a first period student - 17 yesterday, and then brownies for a girl in my second period class whose birthday is tomorrow. Then in third period, there were potato pancakes and noodle pudding - that's what I had for lunch! Thankfully a couple of periods passed without food, and then in the last period, there were two different kinds of snickerdoodles and German pancakes - talk about a sugar overload!
Then I come home. I swear, the paranoia has increased. It used to be just that my ex had entered the home and taken her things. (As in the things that were stolen from the nursing home - and she used to realize that they were taken there - to he's in our home every time we leave. He came in on Mother's Day - she set a trap for him.) Now, today, she's sure that the neighbors are involved as our neighbor has a ladder in our tree. One of our branches broke last week, and for some reason, our neighbor put a ladder in our tree! Now she's sure that he was up there putting another bug in the tree.
Well, at least it's Friday!

Spring

I hate this weather! Sinus, sinus, sinus! And, to think, spring is my favorite season.
I've been working on finding things for my German 4 class next year. They want to do movies and fairy tales and history. This should be a fun year. I've got to get my lesson plans for this class - a combined German 2, 3, 4 class due to necessity - done, so I plan on getting things together this summer. I'll put the plans in a notebook, then pull them out as needed and put them in large envelopes for the kids. I may do that for all the kids, so they can work independently while I am working with another class. It reminds me of my grandmother's school - a one room school house where she taught all 8 grades simultaneously. (I hope I spelled that right!) I used to be able to spell really well, then I lost everything. Fibromyalgia can really mess up your mind.
I love my little pets. For my birthday, I treated myself to a baby iguana and teeny tiny turtles. Remember the kind they used to sell in the "dime store" with the painted backs? That's what I have. Right now, they're in a small plastic storage box, but soon they will have a wading pool all to themselves!
For Easter, I bought my mom and granddaughter a little bunny. She is so cute, and she has brought both of them a lot of happiness in the weeks since them. My mom loves animals as she grew up on a farm. I wish we could find a small farm where we wouldn't be too far away from the hospital but would have enough acreage and buildings to house our pony. Right now, I am spending a fortune every month "storing" him at a stable. I really miss him, and he's getting old, and I would love to have him handy so that my granddaughter and soon-to-be grandson could enjoy him! He's a very sweet pony (and his name is the same as my little grandson's!).
Well, I've rested enough, so I guess I'd better close this blog and get started on more reading for my homework and getting my paper stuff together.
Hope your day is a good one!

Papers

I am hopefully getting started with my papers today. I think I have finished my readings for them and can start putting my notes in order and begin them!
One of them is for my Cognitive Psychology class and will be about cognition and second language acquisition - this one has to be 10 - 15 pages. The second paper for biopsychology is about childhood sexual abuse and how it changes the abused child's brain functioning. This one has to be between 15 - 20 pages, so I guess I'd better get busy!
Today was a fairly good day at work, but I was really tired. My daughter's shower was last night, and it was very nice. The girls fixed chicken salad, ham, roast beef, and egg salad croisant sandwiches. We additionally had chip's with cheese sauce, barbecue and regular chips, a relish tray and fruit tray, and, of course, the cake. They made punch and pink lemonade. Very nice.
Faythe had a good time with her friends, and everybody seemed to blend in with one another. She got a lot of nice things. She took her Elvis bank, but she didn't feel like counting it. I'm really anxious to see how much is in there! I hope there's enough to get her to Dollywood. I wrote "Elvis, Here I come!" on a tag for the bank - I really wanted to write "Dollywood or bust!"

It's Monday!

Another Monday! There's less than three weeks of school!!! Yeah. If only the kids knew how wonderful it makes us feel to know that the school year is almost over. We love the kids, but after a few months and weeks of trying to drill all the wonderful facts into their overloaded brains - not with facts, but with boys and girls and spring break and prom and video games and...
Gretel, my little Dachshund, is jumping on me, wanting to play. She loves her little toys. She brings them to me, and I throw one, and she fetches, and I throw one, and she fetches, etc.
I am still working on the beginnings of my papers and wondering when I will be able to find some time to finish my DVD courses. I'm taking one on counseling and one on life coaching. I'm hoping to begin building up a clientele in the near future. I love counseling. My practicum and internship was spent mainly in a homeless shelter. I always wanted to work with kids - especially abused kids since my family has been through so much, and I do enjoy working with children. I also want to work with victims of domestic violence. I understand.
But, working with the homeless was really wonderful. I love helping them find a job and a new home. So many think that they have nothing to offer, and it's such a wonderful feeling when they discover that they do have a lot to offer society.
And, after working so many years at a high school, I enjoy helping my students decide on which college is best for them and what classes are best in order to be accepted at a college. I always try to tell them to have a back-up plan because we never know what curves life might throw them. How well I know that!
Well, I better get back to my brain and language learning. I have less than two weeks to get my papers written!

Just when you think it's safe to go in the water...

Well, I was feeling pretty good yesterday. The vice-principal called me and asked me if I wanted to do German 4, to which I replied YES! I was really happy about that as there were four students who wanted to sign up for German 4 but were told they couldn't, and I and some others had fought really hard to reinstate the class! I was planning what to do next year, what movies and other things to order, etc., and just was feeling all-around good.
Yesterday afternoon after school, after drinking and drinking (and I'm always telling my students not to use the same word over and over and over!), I went to the doctor's office to have my blood drawn since they couldn't draw it Monday after my appointment. If you stick me, do I not bleed? Well, I didn't! So, as I said, I drank and drank, and then went to have my blood drawn (4 vials - must be selling it on the black market). Today they called. I have a low folic acid level, and my rhumathoid was 239 - normal is 19, so now it's more doctors and more medicine!
Well, at least I have German IV to look forward to, and my classes at Walden, and teaching human sexuality and English in the fall at Ivy Tech, and writing two papers for my classes - which I haven't started yet!
Better go!!!!

What a Day!

Yesterday started out so nicely. we went to my brother's and had the best maple syrup and waffles that I had ever tasted. We enjoyed the company - we were a small group as my daughter forgot, my son didn't come, and my youngest swears that we didn't tell her, so...

I had my mom, my uncle, and my dog in the car with me. We were about to leave when my nephew says, "Do you hear that?" My brother didn't hear it, but my nephew swore that he could hear something. The tire looked a little low, so they put the spare on it - it was also low, so I got everyone out of the house, and my brother took the donut over and aired it up and brought back a can of fix-a-flat. We piled back in the car after the tire was returned and started on our way.

We had just gotten onto the road when there was this horrible sound coming from the rear tire - the donut. I thought it was just the weird tire, so we kept on. By the time we made it out of the wilderness and onto the highway, it was smoking! So we pulled over, called my daughter to come get us, my son to let him know where we were, and my brother for a person who could fix the car. The moral of the story is: it took us nearly 4 hours to make a 30 minute trip. By the time we got home, I was just too tired to grade papers, so I still have a ton of work to do tonight!

We did have a good time although it was so quiet without Rhea Dawn. She wasn't loud, or anything - that's my younger brother - it's just that she's always talking and laughing. I can hear her asking my brother a question, nearly always beginning with "Stevie." Non of the rest could call him that - just her. She was very opinionated but always the first to laugh at herself if she made a mistake. This is a true gift. Most people never do anything wrong.

My brother had new chickens which my neice sent over to him, and he was thrilled. There's nothing like fresh eggs.

Today was okay. I had a very difficult time getting up: I was so tired after yesterday's little adventure in the rain and the muggy heat. Classes went fairly well: 4 had spelling quizzes, 1 did restaurant skits and ate the food that other students had brought in for extra credit, and the last class did modal auxiliary past participles. What fun!

I still need to begin my papers. Although I copied notes onto my laptop, I still needed to get started, but I find it difficult to write when we're at a family reunion and on the road.

I had to go to the doctor's today. My palms and fingers have been tingling off and on for a month, and for the past 4 - 5 days, they've been tingling almost constantly. The doctor at first thought it might be carpal tunnel or even anxiety as it began last month shortly after Rhea Dawn died. She thought that she should rule out other possibilities, so I'm to have blood work for thyroid, lupus, rheumathoid, and vitamin B deficiency. They tried to draw my blood today, but there was no blood to be had, so I'm supposed to drink and drink and go back tomorrow and try again! I wish I had my dad's veins!

Waffle Lunch

We're going to my brothers for lunch. He made maple molasses this year, and we're going to sample it.

When I was a child, my family would get together every few months and have a waffle supper. They were so much fun! Family members would gather in the old family home (probably the oldest in our county, but we have no way of dating it), and there would be food and laughter everywhere as we gathered throughout the house in different stages of eating and just enjoyed the good food and each other. These are some of the most pleasant memories that I have.

But, back to the topic at hand, I really look forward to the day, but it's going to be difficult at the same time; this is the first time that we'll gather at my brother's house without a close family member. My oldest brother's wife passed away quite suddenly and expectedly on Easter. I was hoping to rekindle a closer relationship with her after all the years of ugly that have taken place since I met, married, had children with, and divorced my ex-husband. (Let's just say that all the world LOVES a liar!) She and I had so many things in common, and now thoses future opportunities are gone.

I need to get a ton of things done between now and leaving for the waffle lunch, so I need to get busy - or busier!

Shopping for a wedding shower

Just returned from shopping for wedding shower things. You would think that since June is swiftly approaching that there would be plenty of nice wedding things. Not today. They were changing the location of things in the store, and wedding supplies hadn't been brought out yet.

I am putting off what I really should be doing - writing two papers for the classes that I'm taking. Biopsychology is really interesting. The brain is a wonderful thing! Cognitive psychology is also nice. Learning about learning. I am just very excited about being back in class and working toward my doctorate. Many years in the making.

A little bit about myself: I was born and raised in Indiana University's back yard. My first choice as a major was music, but it's really difficult playing the clarinet when you're can't breathe very well. I discovered when I was a sophomore at IU that I had a muscular disease (Myasthenia Gravis), and so I switched my major from music to languages. I studied German and Spanish, went to Germany for a year as a student at Middlebury College, and met my now ex-husband. I loved living in Germany and hope to go back again soon. We moved back to the States, had four children, and finally, a divorce. Now, I am back in IN, teaching at a high school and community college, and going to school. I'm also trying to learn to play the flute and the clarinet again but haven't had any lessons for a while.

I will post more later. I really need to get started on my papers which are due in 3 weeks!